Maritime drone

ABSTRACT

Maritime drone (1) comprising a hull (2) provided with an upper face (3) and a lower face (4), a centerboard (5) extending projecting from the lower face (4) of the hull (2) in order to give sailing/navigation stability to the maritime drone (1) and at least one wing sail (6). The wing sail (6) comprises a mast (7) connected to the hull (2) and a wing profile (8) connected to the mast (7) and it is suitable to intercept the wind in order to move the maritime drone (1). The centerboard (5) internally defines a containment volume (9) for the wing sail (6), which is movable between an operative position, in which it extends at least partially above the upper face (3) of the hull (2), and an inoperative position, in which it is at least partially housed in the containment volume (9) of the centerboard (5).

DESCRIPTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a maritime drone, according to thepreamble of independent main claim 1.

The maritime drone in question is particularly applicable in the fieldof the production of automated vessels, that is vessels capable ofsailing/navigating entirely independently, in particular by remotecontrol, which are therefore without human crew on board.

In greater detail, the maritime drone in question is particularlyapplicable in the field of the manufacturing of automated vesselsprovided with an at least partially wind-assisted propulsion, that is apropulsion which exploits the thrust exerted by the wind on a sail ofthe vessel.

State of the Prior Art

In the field of manufacturing automated vessels, manufacturing maritimedrones provided with a hull and a wing sail extending projecting fromthe aforementioned hull, which allows the drone to sail/navigateexploiting the thrust exerted by the wind in order to increase theindependence and reduce consumption, whether they are due to sources ofelectric energy or to sources of fuel, is known.

Such drones are used in many fields of the prior art, such as forexample in the field of scientific research, given that they areprovided with several sensors suitable to measure parameters indicatingthe quality of water, to measure variations in the thermal content ofcertain marine currents, to monitor the health or the degree of activityof marine fauna and vegetation or the like, in the field of security,since it is capable of detecting the presence of foreign militaryvessels or submarines, or the presence of vessels not reported toappropriate port control bodies, and thus, possibly involved in illegalactivities, and in the offshore industry, as they can communicate withsubmerged drones and transmit information received regarding thewholeness of pipelines, platforms, and oilfield sites.

Drones of the known type currently available on the market and of thetype briefly described so far revealed several drawbacks.

The main drawback lies in the fact that, in case of strong wind andharsh weather conditions, the maritime drone could tip over due to thethrust exerted by the wind on the wing sail, or, the wing sail itself,which is generally made of composite material with glass or carbon fiberembedded in a plastic matrix or with a sandwich structure alternatingwith expanded plastic material layers, could be damaged or even brokenby the wind, thus rendering the drone no longer usable.

In order to at least partially overcome the problems of the prior artbriefly described above, U.S. Pat. 10,399,651 discloses a maritime droneprovided with wing sail which can be driven to rotate around an axistransverse to the main extension direction of the hull between anoperative position, in which the aforementioned sail rises above thehull to intercept the wind and it is rotatable with respect to the hullaround a vertical rotation axis to vary the angle of incidence betweenthe wing profile thereof and the direction of the wind, and aninoperative position, in which the aforementioned sail is partiallyinserted into a containment volume extending along the rear portion ofthe hull so as not to be exposed to the wind.

In greater detail, the aforementioned wing sail can be driven inrotation between the operative position and the inoperative position bymovement means, which are designed to move, together with the wing sail,a centerboard mechanically connected to the hull, so that, when the wingsail is in the operative position, the centerboard extends below thehull, conferring sailing/navigation stability to the maritime drone,and, when the wing sail is in an inoperative position, the centerboardis collected just below the hull, increasing the hydrodynamics of themaritime drone and allowing it to be submerged beneath the sea surfacein case of harsh weather conditions that could damage the wing sail orthe drone as a whole.

The maritime drone provided with wing sail retractable into thecontainment volume obtained along the hull briefly described so far alsorevealed several drawbacks.

The main drawback lies in the fact that such housing volume obtainedalong the hull does not allow to optimally use the space inside the hullso as to install the electronics and components of the maritime dronetherein. As a matter of fat, the provision of the aforementioned housingvolume entails an increase in the dimensions of the hull, given thatbesides the containment volume for the wing sail, the latter must in anycase have sufficient space therein to house an electronic control unit,a data transmission module for exchanging information with a basestation, a GPS module for tracking the position of the drone, aplurality of sensors for carrying out various monitoring operations,propeller drive means which can be used should the thrust of the wind onthe sail not be sufficient to sail/navigate the drone at the desiredspeed or should the wing sail be retracted due to harsh weatherconditions, the means for moving the wing sail, an electric battery forpower-supplying the components listed so far and the like.

A further drawback lies in the fact that the movement means which drivethe wing sail to rotate between the operative position and theinoperative position are extremely complex, given that they are providedto move, together with the wing sail, also the centerboard of themaritime drone, in order to allow it to be submerged below the surfaceof the water.

U.S. Pat. US 10,526,048 discloses a maritime drone provided with wingsail which can be driven using lever movement means to rotate around anaxis transverse to the main extension direction of the hull between anoperative position, in which the aforementioned sail rises above thehull to intercept the wind and it is rotatable with respect to the hullaround a vertical rotation axis to vary the angle of incidence betweenthe wing profile thereof and the direction of the wind, and aninoperative position, in which the aforementioned sail is placed lyingon the rear part of the hull substantially parallel to the watersurface, so as not to be exposed to the wing should it be sufficientlystrong to break it.

This maritime drone revealed several drawbacks too.

Like in the solution described above, the main drawback of the dronedescribed in U.S. Pat. 10,526,048 lies in the fact that the wing saillying on the hull is cumbersome and it does not allow to installmechanical or electronic components suitable to carry out particularoperations on the upper face of the hull.

A further drawback lies in the fact that the wing sail can be moved onlybetween an operative position, in which it is completely extended tointercept the wind, and an inoperative position, in which it lies on thehull so as not to be exposed to the wind, without provided for thepossibility of arranging only a part of the wing sail to intercept thewind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, in this situation the problem underlying the presentinvention is to eliminate the problems of the aforementioned prior art,by providing a maritime drone, which is provided with a wing sail whichis movable between an operative position spread out to the wind and aninoperative position in which it does not intercept the wind and it isobtained substantially without limiting the usable space on the hull.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a maritimedrone, which is provided with a wing sail that can be exposed to thewind even only partially, so that such wing sail can provide a thrust tothe maritime drone even in case of particularly strong wind to requireless wing sail.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a maritimedrone, which is provided with a wing sail that can be easily movedbetween the operative and non-operative position, in particular usingmovement means which are less complex with respect to those of maritimedrones of the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a maritime dronewhich is operatively entirely efficient and reliable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a maritimedrone, which is simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The technical characteristics of the invention, according to theaforementioned objects, are clearly observable from the content of theclaims outlined below and the advantages thereof will be more apparentfrom the detailed description that follows, provided with reference tothe attached drawings, which represent some embodiments thereof providedpurely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a maritime drone according to a firstembodiment of the present invention, which is provided with two wingsails shown in the operative position;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of FIG. 1 with thewing sails shown in the inoperative position;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a maritime drone according to asecond embodiment, which is provided with a wing sail shown in theoperative position and having an upper module and a lower module whichcan be driven to rotate independently of each other;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of FIG. 3 with thewing sail shown in operative position and the upper and lower moduleshaving different orientation;

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of FIG. 3 with thewing sail shown in the intermediate position;

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of FIG. 3 with thewing sail shown in the inoperative position;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a maritime drone according to a thirdembodiment of the present invention, which is provided with a wing sailshown in the operative position and having an upper module and a lowermodule, of which the upper module is retractable in the lower module ina telescopic manner;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of FIG. 7 with thewing sail in the intermediate position;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of FIG. 7 with thewing sail in the intermediate position, in which the lower module isaligned with a passage opening formed on the upper face of the hull;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the maritime drone of FIG. 7 withthe wing sail in the inoperative position;

FIG. 11 shows a detail of the drone subject of the present inventionrelating to a first embodiment with first and second means for movingthe wing sail, illustrated according to a schematic side view;

FIG. 12 shows a detail of the drone subject of the present inventionrelating to a second embodiment with first and second means for movingthe wing sail, illustrated according to a lateral schematic view;

FIG. 13 shows a detail of the drone subject of the present inventionrelating to a third embodiment with first and second means for movingthe wing sail, illustrated according to a schematic side view;

FIG. 14 shows a detail of the drone subject of the present inventionrelating to a fourth embodiment with third movement means between theupper module and the lower module of the wing profile, illustratedaccording to a lateral schematic view;

FIG. 15 shows a detail of a fifth embodiment of maritime drone subjectof the present invention, relating to a variant of the second embodimentwith third movement means between the upper module and the lower moduleof the wing profile, ed illustrated according to a lateral schematicview;

FIG. 16 shows a detail of a sixth embodiment of the maritime dronesubject of the present invention, relating to a variant of thirdembodiment with third movement means between the upper module and thelower module of the wing profile, and illustrated according to a lateralschematic view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the attached figures, a maritime drone according tothe present invention was indicated in its entirety with 1.

The maritime drone 1, in question, is particularly used in the offshoreindustry and oil production, as it can be used, for example as afollower of submerged drones for transmitting signals in checks on thestructural soundness of pipelines, oil platforms and offshore yards.

As a matter of fact, such maritime drone 1 (of the surface type) can beused as a repeater between a remote-controlled submarine droneconfigured to monitor the soundness of a pipeline for oil transport orto scan the seabed, and a base station positioned on the dry land or ona mother vessel. In particular, the maritime drone 1 subject of thepresent invention can follow the remote-controlled submarine droneduring its deep navigation to improve data communication between thelatter and the base station, the communication which would otherwise beweak or even insufficient.

By way of example, further sectors in which the aforesaid maritime drone1 is used is that of scientific research, given that the maritime drone1 in question may be provided with a plurality of sensors suitable fordetecting parameters indicating the quality of sea water, detecting thepresence of pollutants, assessing the degree of activity and health ofmarine fauna and vegetation, detecting changes in the thermal content ofcertain marine currents or the like, or in the field of security, thisdrone is suitable for detecting the presence of military ships andsubmarines of a foreign country or vessels not reported to appropriateport control bodies and, therefore, possibly suspected of being involvedin illegal activities, such as illegal fishing, smuggling, drugtrafficking, illegal immigration and the like.

The maritime 1, according to the invention, comprises a hull 2 providedwith an upper face 3 and with a lower face 4, which can be made of anymaterial known in the field of nautical and maritime drones.

Preferably, the hull 2 of the maritime drone 1 extends along a first(longitudinal) extension direction X between a stern end 17 and a bowend 18 for a length substantially advantageously comprised between 2 and4 meters.

Otherwise, the hull 2 may have larger dimensions with a length alongsuch first (substantially horizontal) extension direction Xadvantageously comprised, for example, between 8 and 12 meters.

Furthermore, the maritime drone 1 in question is provided with acenterboard 5 projecting from the lower face 4 of the hull 2 in order togive sailing/navigating stability to the maritime drone 1 and with atleast one wing sail 6, which comprises a mast 7 mechanically connectedto the hull 2 and a wing profile 8 connected to the mast 7 and suitableto intercept the wind to move the maritime drone 1.

Although the wing sail 6 will preferably comprise a mast 7 and a wingprofile 8 obtained as two separate elements connected together, suchwing sail 6 could also be made of a single body and in such case themast should be considered as being perforated by the portion surroundingthe rotation axis and extending toward the leech, being tapered.

Preferably, the wing profile 8 extends height-wise between an upper end(halyard angle) and an opposite lower end (tack angle) along a secondvertical extension direction Y substantially perpendicular to the firstextension direction X of the hull 2 and parallel to the mast 7.According to the idea underlying the present invention, the centerboard5 is hollow and it entirely defines at least one containment volume 9.

Furthermore, the wing sail 6, still according to the idea underlying thepresent invention, is moveable between an operative position A, in whichit extends at least partially above the upper face 3 of the hull 2 to inorder to expose at least part of the wing sail 6 to the wind, andinoperative position B, in which it is at least partially housed in thecontainment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 in order to retract at leastpart of the wing sail 6 from the wind.

In particular, providing the wing sail 6 which can be moved between theoperative position and the inoperative position, in which it is housedin the containment volume 9 obtained inside the centerboard 5 and notdirectly along the hull 2, keeps the upper surface of the hull 2 freeand reduces to the minimum the encumbrance inside the hull, which can bebest used to install various components of the maritime drone 1, such asfor example an electronic control unit, an electric battery, a pluralityof sensors for carrying out various monitoring operations, a GPS modulefor tracking the position of the drone, a data transmission module forexchanging signals with a base station and the like.

Besides the wing sail 6, the maritime drone 1 preferably comprisespropeller drive means (not shown given that they are of the per se knowntype) and at least one rudder 21 for adjusting the sailing/navigatingdirection of the drone, which are power-supplied by an electric batterymounted in the hull 2 and they can be advantageously driven when thewing sail 6 is retracted to the inoperative position.

In greater detail, the wing sail 6 can be retracted to the inoperativeposition if the wind is not strong enough to push the maritime drone 1and, therefore, in order to reduce the aerodynamic resistance that wouldbe exerted by the wing sail 6 when the maritime drone 1 is pushed by thepropeller drive means, that is, should the wind be excessively strong torisk damaging or breaking the wing sail 6.

Furthermore, the upper face 3 of the hull 2 is preferably planar-shapedand the maritime drone 1 carries, mounted on the aforementioned upperface 3, one or more photovoltaic panels 22 suitable to recharge theaforementioned electric battery.

Advantageously, the maritime drone 1 comprises first movement means 19mechanically connected to the mast 7 to move the wing sail 6 between theoperative position A and the inoperative position B, and second movementmeans 20 mechanically connected to the wing profile 8 to rotate, withthe wing sail 6 in the operative position, the wing profile 8 around arotation axis Y coaxial to the mast 7.

In greater detail, the second movement means 20 allow to vary the angleof incidence between the wing profile 8 and the direction of the wind,so that the wing sail 6 can optimally exploit the thrust of the wind.

Preferably, the first movement means 19 are provided to move the wingsail 6 between the operative position and the inoperative position, orvice versa, by means of a linear translation along the rotation axis Zof the wing profile 8.

Preferably, the wing profile 8 is rotatably connected to the mast 7around the rotation axis Y with the second movement means mechanicallyconnected to the mast 7 and to the wing profile 8 in order to drive thelatter in rotation with respect to the mast 7. Otherwise, the wingprofile 8 is connected integrally joined to the mast 7 and, therefore,the second movement means 20 are mechanically connected to the hull andto the shaft 7 on which they act to drive the wing profile 8 in rotationaround the rotation axis Z.

According to a first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 , the firstmovement means 19 comprise a support structure 23 housed in thecenterboard 5 and carrying the mast 7 of the wing sail 6 rotatablymounted thereon. The aforementioned support structure 23 is slidablyinserted into the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 and it canbe driven so as to translate along the rotation axis Z of the wingprofile 8 by means of a screw-nut mechanism 24, whose the screw 24′ isrotated by a first electric drive motor 25, advantageously fixed to thecenterboard 5. Furthermore, the second movement means 20 comprise asecond electric drive motor 26 mounted on the support structure 23 andsuitable to drive in rotation the mast 7, which is connected integrallyjoined to the wing profile 8 to rotate it around the aforementionedrotation axis Y.

Otherwise, according to a second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12 , theshaft 7 is mounted integrally joined with the aforementioned supportstructure 23, the wing profile 8 is rotatably connected to the mast 7,for example with the interposition of a first bushing 27, and the secondmovement means 20 comprise a third electric drive motor 28 housed in asuitable seat obtained in the wing profile 8 and coupled by means of aworm screw 27′ to a gear wheel keyed on the mast 7, so that, by rotatingthe worm screw 27′ by means of the aforementioned third electric drivemotor 28, the wing profile 8 is also rotated with respect to the mast 7.

According to a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13 , the firstmovement means 19 comprise a first linear actuator 29, which isconnected integrally joined the wing profile 8, and it is provided witha rod inserted into the housing volume 9 of the centerboard 5 andsusceptible to be driven in rotation by the second movement means 20provided with a fourth electric drive motor 30 mechanically connected tothe bottom of the housing volume 9.

According to all described embodiments, the hull 2 advantageouslycomprises at least one through cavity 10 extending, at the centerboard5, from the upper face 3 to the lower face 4 in order to allow theaccess of the wing sail 6 in the containment volume 9 of the centerboard5. The wing profile 8 of the wing sail 6 extends, advantageously,tapering from an attachment edge 11 at the shaft 7 to an outlet edge 12,opposite the attachment edge 11. Furthermore, the through cavity 10advantageously delimits passage opening 13 on the upper face 3 of saidhull 2 substantially counter-shaped with respect to the cross-section ofsaid wing profile 8 according to a plane orthogonal to said mast 7.

In greater detail, the leading edge 11 is the point of the wing profile8 susceptible to intercept the wind first and it has a widened andsubstantially rounded shape in order to divide it into two flows whichflow along opposite sides of the wing profile 8 at different speeds,whose values depend on the speed of the wind, on the angle of incidencebetween the wing profile 8 and the direction of the wind and on the wingcamber, that is, the distribution of the thicknesses of the wing profile8 along the rope that joins the attachment edge 11 and the outlet edge12. This distribution may be symmetrical or asymmetrical with respect tothe rope. In a known manner, the wind flows which flow along the sidesof the wing profile 8 at different speeds therefore exert a greaterpressure on one side and a lower pressure on the other side, causing athrust for the maritime drone 1 along a direction that goes from theside with greater pressure to the side with lower pressure. The windflows then detach from the sides of the wing profile 8 at the outletedge 12, where they then tend to converge.

Operatively, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the operativeposition to the inoperative position, the wing profile 8 thereof isdriven in rotation by the second movement means 20 around the rotationaxis Z until it is aligned with the passage opening 13 on the hull 2; atthis point the wing sail 6 is translated by the first movement meansalong the rotation axis Z to be inserted with the profile thereof in thecontainment volume 9 of the centerboard 5.

According to a first embodiment illustrated in the attached FIGS. 1 and2 , the maritime drone 1 comprises two wing sails 6, each provided witha corresponding mast 7 connected to the hull 2 and a corresponding wingprofile 8 connected to the mast 7. Furthermore, the hull 2advantageously comprises two through cavities 10, one for each wing sail6, extending, at the centerboard 5, from the upper face 3 to the lowerface 4 so as to allow the access of both wing sails 6 in the containmentvolume 9 of the centerboard 5.

Preferably, the centerboard 5 internally defines a single containmentvolume 9 for both the wing sails 6.

Alternatively, the centerboard 5 internally defines several containmentvolumes 9, one for each wing sail 6.

In particular, the provision of two wing sails 6, or even more, allowsto fit - on the shaft 7 of each wing sail 6 - wing profiles 8 having asmaller extension along the second extension direction Y with respect tothe case where the maritime drone 1 comprises a single wing sail 6,given that two wing profiles 8 with a smaller extension are capable ofreceiving a thrust from the wind which can be similar to that of a wingprofile 8 with a larger extension. In addition, two wing profiles 8 withsmaller extension confer greater stability to the maritime drone 1,given that they determine a center of gravity closer to the surface ofthe water on which the drone navigates than in the case of a single wingprofile 8 with greater extension, thus reducing the risk of the maritimedrone 1 tipping over around the first extension axis X of the hull 2 inthe event of sudden rush of wind.

According to an embodiment illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 3-10(but which can also be extended to the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2 ), thewing profile 8 of the wing sail 6 advantageously comprises at least twomodules 14, 15, including an upper module 14 and a lower module 15,which can be driven to move with relative motion with respect to eachother.

Preferably, the maritime drone 1 comprises third movement means 31mechanically connected to the aforementioned upper module 14 and lowermodule 15 and provided to move one of them with respect to the other.

In greater detail, according to a second embodiment illustrated in theattached FIGS. 3 to 6 , the upper module 14 and the lower module 15 ofthe wing profile 8 can be advantageously driven to rotate independentlyof each other around the rotation axis Z.

Preferably, the mast 7 comprises two sections 32, 33, including an uppersection 32 and a lower section 33, which are arranged coaxial, which arerotatably coupled to each other around the aforementioned rotation axisZ and are mounted integrally joined therewith, respectively. the uppermodule 14 and the lower module 15 to drive them in rotationindependently of each other.

In greater detail, the third means 31 for moving the maritime drone 1are interposed between the lower section and the upper section and theyare provided to drive one of the two sections 32, 33 in rotation withrespect to the other around the rotation axis Z, and, as a result, thetwo modules 14, 15 integrally joined therewith.

According to an advantageous embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 , thethird movement means 31 comprise an electric motor provided with astator 34 mechanically coupled to the lower section 33 and a rotor 35mechanically coupled to the upper section 32 of the mast 7 to drive theupper module 14 in rotation with respect to the lower module 15.

Otherwise, according to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15 , the mast7 comprises a single main section 36 carrying the lower module 15mounted integrally joined therewith and, rotatably around the rotationaxis Z, for example by interposing a second bushing 37, the upper module14.

Preferably, the third movement means 31 comprise a fifth electric drivemotor 38 housed in a special seat formed inside the upper module 14 andcoupled by means of a worm screw to a gear wheel keyed on the mainsection 36, so that, by driving the worm screw in rotation by means ofthe aforementioned fifth electric drive motor 38, the upper module 14 isalso driven in rotation with respect to the main section 36 of the mast7 and, as a result, with respect to the lower module 15 integrallyjoined therewith.

Furthermore, the wing sail 6 can be advantageously moved to anintermediate position A′ between the operative position and theinoperative position, in which the lower module 15 of the wing profile 8is at least partially housed in the containment volume 9 of saidcenterboard 5 in order to retract the lower module 15 from the wind andthe upper module 14 of the wing profile 8 is arranged outside thecontainment volume 9 above the upper face 3 of said hull 2 in order toexpose the upper module 14 to the wind.

This allows to use at least a part of the wing sail 6, in particular theupper module 14 of the wing profile 8, should the wind be strong enoughto break or damage the wing sail 6 in an operative position which isfully extended above the upper face 3 of the hull 2 but is not strongenough to damage it when it is only partially extended.

In particular, the fact that the upper module 14 and the lower module 15of the wing profile 8 can be driven in rotation independently of eachother around the rotation axis Z allows to operate, with the wing sail 6in an intermediate position, the upper module 14 to vary the angle ofincidence between it and the direction of the wind without beinghindered in the rotation by the lower module 15 retracted at leastpartially into the housing volume 9 of the centerboard 5.

Furthermore, the fact that the upper module 14 and the lower module 15can be driven in rotation independently of each other around therotation axis Z allows, with the wing sail 6 in the operative position,to vary the angle of incidence between each module 14, 15 and thedirection of the wind, in particular, in order to exploit windgradients, both in direction and in speed, extending along the directionof the rotation axis Z.

Operatively, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the operativeposition to the intermediate position A′, the wing profile 8 is drivenin rotation by the second movement means 20 around the rotation axis Zuntil the lower module 15 is aligned with the passage opening 13 on thehull 2 and the wing sail 6 can subsequently translate — thanks to thefirst movement means 19 — along the rotation axis Z so as to allow theinsertion of the lower module 15 into the containment volume 9, leavingthe upper module 14 above the upper face 3 of the hull 2 free to rotateindependently of the lower module 15 thanks to the action of the thirdmovement means 31.

Furthermore, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the intermediateposition A′ to the inoperative position B, the upper module 14 of thewing profile 8 is driven in rotation independently of the lower module15 around the rotation axis Z by the third movement means 31 until theupper module 14 is aligned with the passage opening 13 and the wing sail6 can thus be translated by the first movement means 19 along therotation axis Z to insert (at least partially) the upper module 14 intothe containment volume 9 of the centerboard 6.

Preferably, the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 has a depthsubstantially equal to the sum of the extension of the upper module 14and of the lower module 15 along the second extension direction Y of thewing profile 8, so that, with the wing sail 6 in the inoperativeposition, the lower module 15 is fully retracted into the housing volume16 and the upper module 14 is at least partially housed therein.However, one part of the upper module 14 of the wing profile 8 couldproject from the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 in order tobe in any case contained in the through cavity 10 of the hull 2, or evenpartly project from the passage opening 13 on the upper face 3 of thehull 2.

According to a third embodiment illustrated in the attached FIGS. 7 to11 , one of the modules 14, 15 of the wing profile 8 advantageouslydefines — therein — a housing volume 16 for the other of said modules15, 14, which is retractable into the aforementioned housing volume 16.

Advantageously, the housing volume 16 is obtained inside the lowermodule 15 and the upper module 14 is slidably inserted into said housingvolume 16 in a telescopic manner between an extended position, in whichthe upper module 14 projects from the housing volume 16 with respect tothe lower module 15, and a retracted position, in which the upper module14 is retracted into said housing volume 16.

In greater detail, the wing sail 6 can be movable between the operativeposition A, in which the lower module 15 is arranged outside thecontainment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 above the upper face 3 of thehull 2 and the upper module 14 is in extended position with respect tothe lower module 15, an inoperative position B, in which the lowermodule 15 is housed in the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 andthe upper module 14 is in retracted position in the housing volume 16 ofthe lower module 15, and an intermediate position A′ (thus operativetoo) between the operative position and the inoperative position, inwhich the lower module 15 is arranged outside the containment volume 9above the upper face 3 in order to expose the lower module 15 to thewind and the upper module 14 is in retracted position in the housingvolume 16 of the lower module 15 in order to retract the upper module 4from the wind.

The third movement means 31 mechanically connected to the upper module14 and to the lower module 15 comprise, for example, a second linearactuator 39, coupled — at a first end thereof — to the bottom of thehousing volume 16 of the lower module 15 and — at an opposite second endthereof — to the upper module 14 and provided to telescopicallytranslate the latter along a linear movement direction substantiallyparallel to the rotation axis Z of the wing profile 8 between theextended position and the retracted position with respect to the lowermodule 15.

Operatively, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the operativeposition to the intermediate position, it is sufficient to actuate thethird movement means 31 to drive the upper module 14 from the extendedposition to the retracted position in the housing volume 16 of the lowermodule 15.

Furthermore, in order to move the wing sail 6 from the intermediateposition to the inoperative position, the wing profile 8 is driven inrotation by the second movement means 20 around the rotation axis Zuntil the lower module 15 is aligned with the passage opening 13 of thehull 2 and the wing sail 6 is translated by the first movement means 19along the rotation axis Z in order to insert the lower module 15 intothe containment volume 9 which already carries the upper module 14inserted into the housing volume 16 in a telescopic manner

In particular, the provision of modules 14, 15 which can be driven so asto move relatively with respect to each other in a telescopic mannerallows to mount — on the maritime drone 1 — third movement means 31,that are particularly simple, for example a linear actuator.

Preferably, the containment volume 9 of the centerboard 5 has a depthsubstantially equal to the extension of the lower module 15 along thesecond extension direction Y of the wing profile 8, so that, with thewing sail 6 in the inoperative position, the lower module 15 — carryingthe upper module 14 retracted in the housing volume 16 thereof — is inturn at least partially housed the containment volume 9.

According to all embodiments outlined, one part of wing sail (or lowermodule 15 of the wing sail 8) could however project from the containmentvolume 9 of the centerboard 5 in order to be in any case contained inthe through cavity 10 of the hull 2, or even partly project from thepassage opening 13 on the upper face 3 of the hull 2.

Preferably, the maritime drone 1 comprises at least one anemometerprovided to detect wind speed values and an electronic control unitoperatively connected to the aforementioned anemometer to read the windspeed values detected by the anemometer.

In greater detail, the electronic control unit is provided to move thewing sail 6 from the operative position A toward the inoperativeposition B, by means of the first and second movement means 19, 20, forwind speed values detected by the anemometer greater than apredetermined first threshold value, above which the wing sail 6 isretracted so as not to be damaged by the wind.

The electronic control unit is advantageously provided to move the wingsail 6 from the inoperative position B toward the operative position Afor wind speed values smaller than the aforementioned first thresholdvalue, below which the wing sail 6 can be at least partially extended tointercept the wind.

Preferably, in the case of the examples of FIGS. 3-10 , the electroniccontrol unit is provided to move the wing sail 6 from the operativeposition to the intermediate position, by means of the first and secondmovement means 19 20, for wind speed values detected by the anemometercomprised between the aforementioned first threshold value and apredetermined second threshold value smaller than the first. Theelectronic control unit is advantageously provided to move the wing sail6, in the case of the examples of FIGS. 3-10 , from the intermediateposition A′ (partially operative) to the fully operative position A forwind speed values smaller than the aforementioned second thresholdvalue, below which the wing sail 6 can be at fully extended to interceptthe wind without the risk of being damaged by the wind.

Furthermore, the electronic control unit is preferably provided to movethe wing sail 6 from the operative position to the inoperative position,by means of the first and second movement means 19, 20; for wind speedvalues detected by the anemometer smaller than a predetermined thirdthreshold value smaller than the first and second threshold values, toretract the wing sail 6 should the wind not be strong enough to push themaritime drone 1 and thus drive the propeller drive means from theinoperative position to the operative position for wind speed valuescomprised between the third and second threshold value.

Therefore, the invention thus conceived attains the pre-set objects.

1. A maritime drone, which comprises: a hull (2) provided with an upperface (3) and with a lower face (4); a centerboard (5) extendingprojecting from the lower face (4) of said hull (2) in order to givesailing/navigation stability to said maritime drone (1); at least onewing sail (6), which comprises a mast (7) connected to said hull (2) anda wing profile (8) connected to said mast (7) and it is suitable tointercept the wind in order to move said maritime drone (1); whereinsaid centerboard (5) is hollow and it internally defines a containmentvolume (9); said wing sail (6) being movable between an operativeposition (A), in which said wing sail (6) extends at least partiallyabove the upper face (3) of said hull (2) in order to expose at leastpart of said wing sail (6) to the wind, and an inoperative position (B),in which said wing sail (6) is at least partially housed in thecontainment volume (9) of said centerboard (5) in order to retract atleast part of said wing sail (6) from the wind.
 2. The maritime drone ofclaim 1, further comprising a first movement system (19) mechanicallyconnected to said wing sail (6) in order to move said wing sail (6)between said operative position (A) and said inoperative position (B),and a second movement system (20) mechanically connected to said wingprofile (8) in order to rotate said wing profile (8) around a rotationaxis (Z) coaxial to said mast (7).
 3. The maritime drone of claim 1,wherein said hull (2) comprises at least one through cavity (10)extending, at said centerboard (5), from said upper face (3) to saidlower face (4) in order to allow the access of said wing sail (6) intothe containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5).
 4. The maritimedrone of claim 3, wherein the wing profile (8) of said wing sail (6)extends tapered from an attachment edge (11) at said mast to an outletedge (12) opposite said attachment edge (11); said through cavity (10)delimiting a passage opening (13) on the upper face (3) of said hull (2)substantially counter-shaped with respect to the cross-section of saidwing profile (8) according to a plane orthogonal to said mast (7). 5.The maritime drone of claim 4, further comprising two wing sails (6),each provided with a corresponding said mast (7) connected to said hull(2) and a corresponding said wing profile (8) connected to said mast(7); said hull (2) comprising two through cavities (10), one for eachsaid wing sail (6), extending, at said centerboard (5), from said upperface (3) to said lower face (4) in order to allow the access of bothsaid wing sails (6) in the containment volume (9) of said centerboard(5).
 6. The maritime drone of claim 2, wherein the wing profile (8) ofsaid wing sail (6) comprises at least two modules (14, 15), including anupper module (14) and a lower module (15), which are rotatably movablewith respect to said rotation axis (Z) and are rotatably movable withrelative motion with respect to each other around said rotation axis(Z).
 7. The maritime drone of claim 6, wherein the upper module (14) andthe lower module (15) of the wing profile (8) of said wing sail (6) areactuatable to rotate one independently from the other around saidrotation axis (Z).
 8. The maritime drone of claim 7, wherein said wingsail (6) is movable into an intermediate position between said operativeposition and said inoperative position, in which the lower module (15)of said wing profile (8) is at least partially housed in the containmentvolume (9) of said centerboard (5) in order to retract said lower module(15) from the wind and the upper module (14) of said wing profile (8) isplaced outside the containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5) abovethe upper face (3) of said hull (2) in order to expose said upper module(14) to the wind.
 9. The maritime drone of claim 6, wherein one of saidmodules (14, 15) defines, therein, a housing volume (16) for the otherof said modules (15, 14) and that the other of said modules (15, 14) isretractable in said housing volume (16).
 10. The maritime drone of claim9, wherein said housing volume (16) is obtained inside said lower module(15) and that said upper module (14) is slidably inserted into saidhousing volume (16) in a telescopic manner between an extended position,in which the upper module (14) projects from said housing volume (16)with respect to said lower module (15), and a retracted position, inwhich said upper module (14) is retracted into said housing volume (16);said wing sail (6) being movable between said operative position, inwhich said lower module (15) is placed outside the containment volume(9) of said centerboard (5) above the upper face (3) of said hull (2)and said upper module (14) is in extended position with respect to saidlower module (15), an inoperative position, in which said lower module(15) is housed in the containment volume (9) of said centerboard (5) andsaid upper module (14) is in retracted position in the housing volume(16) of said lower module (15), and an intermediate position betweensaid operative position and said inoperative position, in which saidlower module (15) is placed outside said containment volume (9) abovesaid upper face (3) in order to expose said lower module (15) to thewind and said upper module (14) is in retracted position in the housingvolume (16) of said lower module (15) in order to retract said uppermodule (14) from the wind.